``When daddy goes out in the middle of the night, that`s when the boys really worry,`` said Pat D`Atrio, wife of Fire Department Captain Richard D`Atrio.

The D`Atrios brought their two young sons and daughter to the Central Fire Station on West Atlantic Avenue Sunday afternoon for a service honoring city firefighters who have died.

This was Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Sunday. The day honoring firefighters who have died in the line of duty has been observed by fire departments around the nation since 1979 as the culmination of each year`s National Fire Prevention Week.

Last year, 114 firefighters in the United States -- two from other parts of Florida -- died on the job.

D`Atrio said she is concerned about her husband every day he goes work. ``But we know he knows what he`s doing,`` she said. ``We`re all a close family, and we`re really proud of what he does.``

As the noontime sun beat down, the sirens of nine fire trucks and rescue vehicles wailed urgently for half a minute to announce the ceremony.

Firefighters with black tape stretched across their badges placed wreaths by the station flagpole for each of 10 members of the Fire Department.

The men snapped to attention. A prayer was offered by the Rev. William Reese of Lakeview Baptist Church. The flag was lowered to half mast and taps was played.

Delray Beach has been fortunate. None of the city firefighters honored Sunday had died in the line of duty.

Vivine Knapp`s husband, Richie, died last year after a 28-year career in the Fire Department that ended in 1972. ``You always worry when your husband is away from home,`` she said.

Knapp recalled one dangerous time when her husband went alone into the burning projection room of a movie theater. ``He had the fire hose. He sprayed the fire out,`` she said.

Firefighter Bill Rego, who organized the service, said it was the first of its kind in Delray Beach and one of the few being held in Florida. Rego said the department plans to hold the memorial again next year.

``I hope we don`t have to have a service for some of the guys here today,`` he said.